Split

Split

Year: 2017

Runtime: 117 min

Language: English

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Budget: $9M

ThrillerHorror

Kevin, a man with 23 distinct personalities under the care of Dr. Fletcher, finds himself harboring a dangerous, previously unknown persona. When Casey and her friends arrive, Kevin's carefully constructed stability begins to unravel, triggering a terrifying escalation of psychological turmoil. As his personalities clash and merge, the situation spirals out of control, endangering everyone nearby and pushing the boundaries of his own fractured mind.

Split (2017) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Split (2017) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet, modern city where the ordinary rhythms of daily life mask undercurrents of unease, a fragile equilibrium hides a deeper, unsettling complexity. The world feels both familiar and slightly off‑kilter, bathed in a muted palette that hints at something lurking just beyond perception. This setting becomes a pressure cooker for the characters who wander its streets, each carrying their own hidden tensions that simmer beneath polite conversation.

Kevin is a charismatic yet enigmatic figure, quietly managed by his therapist, Dr. Fletcher. For years he has lived with a constellation of twenty‑three distinct personalities, each with its own voice and quirks, forming a fragile tapestry of identity that he and his doctor have learned to navigate. Their routine is disrupted when an unfamiliar, more dangerous facet begins to surface, threatening the delicate balance they have painstakingly maintained.

Enter Casey, a pragmatic young woman thrust into an uncomfortable social circle that includes her classmate Claire and their friend Marcia. Their uneasy bond is tested when circumstances draw them into Kevin’s orbit, setting the stage for a tense interplay of trust, curiosity, and fear. As the trio confronts the enigma of Kevin’s mind, their interactions oscillate between uneasy camaraderie and a growing sense of dread, each moment layered with psychological intrigue.

The film’s tone is a brooding blend of suspense and psychological horror, where ordinary environments become claustrophobic chambers of the mind. Shadows linger in hallways, silence is punctuated by whispered internal dialogues, and the audience is invited to linger on the unsettling question of what truly lies behind a fractured psyche. All the while, the characters grapple with their own perceptions of reality, hinting at a looming confrontation that could reshape their understanding of self and survival.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 03:30

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Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Claustrophobic survival thrillers like Split

Stories of ordinary people held captive by a menacing and unstable threat.If you liked the tense captivity and psychological terror of Split, explore more movies like it. This list features similar films where characters fight for survival against a dangerous captor in oppressive, confined settings, creating a gripping and anxious viewing experience.

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These narratives typically begin with a sudden act of entrapment, stripping characters of their freedom and safety. The plot revolves around outwitting a captor whose motives or sanity are questionable. The confined setting becomes a character itself, amplifying the psychological pressure and forcing characters to rely on their wits under extreme duress.

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Movies in this thread share a core experience of intense psychological and physical confinement. They are grouped by their oppressive atmosphere, the tension derived from a power imbalance between captor and captive, and the central theme of survival against a deeply unsettling threat.

Fractured mind psychological horror movies like Split

Horror that emerges from the terrifying potential of a broken mind.For viewers who enjoyed the exploration of dissociative identity disorder and psychological turmoil in Split. Discover similar horror and thriller films where the narrative is driven by a character's fractured mental state, creating stories that are deeply unnerving and psychologically complex.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative often follows a central character whose perception of reality is unreliable, forcing the audience to piece together the truth. The story delves into the origins of the trauma that fractured the mind, building sympathy and terror simultaneously. The climax typically involves the emergence of a dangerous persona or the complete collapse of the individual's mental defenses.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of psychological fragmentation as the source of horror. They share a heavy emotional weight, a focus on internal chaos, and a tone that is deeply unsettling as they explore the dark corners of human psychology and trauma.

Unlock the Full Story of Split

Don't stop at just watching — explore Split in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Split is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Split Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Split, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Split Summary

Split Timeline

Track the full timeline of Split with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Split Timeline

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Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Split. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Split

Split Ending Explained

What really happened at the end of Split? This detailed ending explained page breaks down final scenes, hidden clues, and alternate interpretations with expert analysis and viewer theories.

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More About Split

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Split: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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